Victor C. Anderson, a research oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, whose anonymous donation with his wife established the Victor Alderson Chair of Applied Ocean Science in 1982, died Nov. 3 at his San Diego home. He was 90.

Anderson joined Scripps as a student in 1947. His scientific research interests included acoustic signal processing, underwater acoustics and ocean engineering.

Anderson was born to missionary parents in Shanghai, China, on March 31, 1922. He enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles as a graduate student in physics in 1946. After a year in residence at UCLA, he joined the University of California’s Marine Physical Laboratory (MPL) at Scripps. His research at MPL in the study of the deep scattering layer completed the requirements for a Ph.D., which he received in 1953.

The following year, Anderson was granted a postdoctoral fellowship at the Acoustics Research Laboratory at Harvard University, where he de-signed and developed a digital time compression technique for application to acoustic signal processing.

Anderson returned to Scripps’ MPL in 1955 and continued his research in the field of acoustical signal processing and ocean engineering. Topics of his research included the spatial and temporal distribution of acoustic ambient noise in the ocean and development of the remote underwater manipulator (RUM). He also invented the digital multibeam steering system (DIMUS), which is used in sonar systems on U.S. Navy ships and submarines. Anderson served as deputy director of MPL from 1976 until his retirement in 1989.

Anderson was the recipient of the National Security Industrial Association’s 1986 Adm. Charles B. Martell Technical Excellence Award for his work in the development of the DIMUS system. He also received the Navy's 1976 Distinguished Public Service Award.

Anderson and wife Anne established the Alderson Chair in 1982 with a $250,000 gift through her company, InterOcean Industries, Inc. The chair was named for Anne’s grandfather, Victor Alderson, who was himself a noted scientist descended from the original Mayflower pilgrims and settled in La Jolla after his retirement until his death in 1946.

A memorial service for Anderson is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, 2128 Chats-worth Blvd., followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, the Anderson family asks that friends consider making a contribution in memory of Victor Anderson to a charity of their choice.

Victor Anderson, oceanographer and philanthropistVictor C. Anderson, a research oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, whose anonymous donation with his wife established the Victor Alderson Chair of Applied Ocean Science in 1982, d...